PCNA Acquires HumphreyLine

Financial Terms Not Revealed

As first reported in a Breaking News Alert on Friday, Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America (PCNA) has acquired supplier firm HumphreyLine (asi/62050). Financial terms of the transaction were not revealed, but HumphreyLine now becomes part of the family of supplier companies owned by PCNA, including Bullet (asi/42424), Journalbooks (asi/91340), Leed’s (asi/66887), Trimark Powered by Leed’s (asi/66888) and Trimark Sportswear Group (asi/92122).

“Over the past six years we’ve discussed with HumphreyLine’s owner, Mel Ellis, a variety of ways of working together,” said Jim Epstein, chief development officer of Polyconcept. “Earlier this year, the acquisition potential arose and together we moved quickly to close a deal. This aligned well with PCNA’s heightened interest in adding additional companies to our group through a stepped-up acquisition program.”

PCNA will now offer HumphreyLine’s full line of products including category expansions into USA-made health and wellness items. In addition, the acquisition will allow PCNA to offer new decorating capabilities including full-color labeling, offset printing, and variable data capabilities.

“Products made in the USA have become an important offering in our industry,” said David Nicholson, president of PCNA. “As a fully integrated and specialized American manufacturer, HumphreyLine gives us the opportunity to provide our customers with the best selection of domestic products for their projects. The company’s impeccable reputation, as well as its dedication to quality and compliance, makes it a great addition to PCNA.”

Through the end of 2014, HumphreyLine will maintain its existing website, processing and service systems. In January 2015, HumphreyLine products will be offered exclusively through PCNA’s Bullet business unit. Orders, though, will continue to be manufactured, produced and fulfilled out of HumphreyLine’s existing Kentucky facility. “Our success at HumphreyLine was built on one simple objective – serving our customers,” said Mel Ellis, president of HumphreyLine. “We believe that PCNA shares the same commitment to customer service, which will allow the legacy of our company to continue. Additionally, we are proud to watch our line of American-made products continue to be offered to our loyal customers as well as reach new distributors across the industry.”

For 2014, PCNA ranks as the third-largest supplier in the industry, after reporting 2013 North American ad specialty sales of $472.4 million, a 6.6% increase over 2012.